Shoemaking-machine.



E. ERICKSON.

SHOEMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0:015, 19H.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IHE NDFRIS PETERS (0.. PHoTc-LlrHO WASHINGTON. D cv E. ERICKSON. SHOEMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FIL'ED 050.15. 1911.

PatentedJune 1, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

To all whom it may concern:

EDWARD ERIGKSON, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Be it known that I, EDWARD ERIoKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Shoemaking-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to shoe making machines and is herein shown and described, by way of exemplification merely, as embodied in a machine for breasting heels. It is to be understood, however, that in its broader aspects the invention is capable of embodiment in other machines of this class.

, is power driven, it has been difficult to devise mechanism which would arrest the knife under all conditions so as not to cut into the shank portion of the shoe and this has been found especially hard to accomplish in machines for breasting the heels of shoes while still upon the last, as commercial lastsvary considerably in height and consequently either; the stroke of the knife must be changed with each variation in the height of the last or else the shoe must be jacked each time to bring theshank to'a predetermined height, that is, to the lower limit of the knife stroke, supposing the knife to reciprocate vertically. There is also considerable variation in the thick- -ness of the shank portion of the sole in different shoes, so that even if the lasts were of the same height a knife adjusted to out to the shank of one shoe would cut into the shank of'another shoehaving a thicker. shank portion.

It is usual to clamp and position shoes relatively to the breasting knife by bringinga heel tread presser plate or gage plate into contact with the tread face of the heel, but in the ordinary construction the heel tread presser plate cannot Specification of Letters Patent.

SHOEMAKING- MACHINE.

Patented June 1, 1915.

conveniently be used as a stop for determining the vertical position of the shoe relatively to the knife as the vertical position of the plate must vary with each different height of heel, there being more or less variation even in heels normally of the same height. 7

The object of this invention is to provide a machine of this class which will enable shoes of widely varying characteristics to be brought into and held in such relation to the operating tool or mechanism that the shoes will be treated uniformly, with no danger or possibility of the tool acting beyond the extent desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an abutment, or abutments, against which the shoe may be firmly clamped, which will be movable upon contact of the shoe therewith but will be automatically arrested and locked in position when the shank ofthe shoe has reached the proper relation to the lower limit of the I} stroke of the knife.

"It is also an object of the presentinvention to provide means which will automatically position the shoe irrespectively of characteristics of the shoe such as the height of the heel, the thickness of the shank portion of the sole, or height variations in the last, so that the shoe will be properly located relatively to the limit of the operating stroke of the knife'and the knife will breast the heel without cutting the shank.

An important feature of the present invention is embodied in mechanism for auto matically arresting movement of the shoe into position with the shank portion at the lower limit of the stroke of the operating tool or knife irrespectively of the height of the ,heel. Asusual, a heel abutment or presser plate is provided for contact with the tread face of the heel and against which, when held stationary, the shoe may be clamped by movement of the jack;

By this invention, means is provided for automatically arresting, at theproper point, further movement of the heel presser plate and enabling the shoe to be clamped thereagainst and properly located relatively to the knife irrespectively of the characteristics of the individual heel, sole or last.

As an important feature of the invention, a shank abutment or stop member is also provided for engaging the shank of a shoe and between the stop and the heel abutment or tread presser plate mechanism is provided whereby, when both the shank stop and thetread presser plate are brought into contact with the shoe by movement thereof, further movement of the presser plate will be arrested and the shoe will be positioned with the shank portion at the lower limit of the knife stroke, and may .be i.

firmly clamped in this position by pressure exerted upon the shoe inopposition to the now stationary abutments.

A further featureof the invention is embodied in the mechanism connecting the two abutments whereby, as the shoe is brought against them to position it relatively to the knife, the pressure is distributed between the ,abutments and, as herein shown, there isan equal division of pressure between the abutment contacting with the tread face of the heel and that engaging the shank of the sole. The work is preferably elevated by a' jack mechanism and the heel abutment is first brought in contact with the work. As the heel abutment is elevated, the shank abutment is brought in contact with the work and further vertical movement [of the work is arrested,though further actuation of the'elevating mechanism will apply pressure to the shank and to the tread face of the heel,

' and in the embodiment shown this pressure than ispossible when the shoe'is clamped attheheel only It will also .be noticed that the'positions of the abutments against which the shoe is clamped .are located close. to the knife so that there can be little or no yielding of the material between the abutments and the knife. It sometimes happens in breastingvshoes the usual method that the :kniferedge 'will engage the shank portion of "the" sole, which, having 'no pressure 7 applied to it, will :be more or less soft and yielding, and will crease the leather and compressit beneath its edge before it actu allyicuts into it, andif theknife isactuated far enough will suddenly-break. through the outersurface or skin of the leather and then,

, because of the elasticity vof the under :por-

tions of the leatherwhich offer less resists anceto the cutting action "than the exterior skin, willlcut quite deeply into ,the sole.

It is also a very important feature of the invention that there is an interrelation between the position of one of the abutments and the knife such that the limit of the knife stroke is determined prior to its actu ation by the position of the abutment. As

herein shown, the shank abutment or stop is so connected to the knife that the knife when actuated can reach only the plane of the shank contacting face of the stop, that is, while the position of the shank stop will vary as shoes having heels of difierent height are clamped against it, the initial position of the knife relatively to the sole engaging face of the shank stop remains constant and henceas the actuating stroke V of the knife is also constant the knife must,

. mder all conditions, cease cutting when it reaches the plane of the contacting face of the shank stop. Preferably the ,heel' tread abutment or presser plate is moved by the shoe as it is brought into clamping position, and this movement is transferred to the shank abutment or stop so that there is relative movement between them,.and preferably also ,movement of the tread presser plate is communicated automatically to the knife so that its-initial or starting position ischanged or adjusted according V to the posit-ion of the presser plate.

, As embodied, this feature'of the invention 1 A comprises mechanismwhereby as the presser plate is moved upwardly the. shank stop is moved equallyand oppositely downwardly, and the movement of the treadipresser plate is communicated to the knife carrier to move or adjust it downwardly to the same extent asthe shank stop is moved downwardly,'so that while the .lengthlof thestroke of the knife need not vary, the point at which the downward movement of the knife ceases V A varies in accordance with the position of the shank of the shoe held in clamping position against the presser plate and stop mecha-' n lsm.

Preferably and as herein shown the relative movement of a heel tread presser plate and stop is utilized to 'movevthe knife carrier relatively to an actuator having a constant stroke, so that while the length'of the knife stroke remains constantthe initial position or starting point ofthe knife is varied in accordance with the point at which it is desired that the cutting'action of the knife shall'cease'. In the mechanism shown,

thetread presser plate is arranged to be moved upwardly by contact of the heel therewith, and the vertical movement .of the-presser plate is transmitted through a bell-crank lever to a horizontally'moving slide having pivoted thereto a block which 1 rests in an obliquely arranged slot in. the slide upon which the knife is mounted, the knife carrier slide being mounted for ver-' tical reciprocation. fHorizontal movement:

of the slide, therefore, by reason of the inclined slot, will move the knife carrier slide vertically and control or adjust its vertical position in accordance with the extent of movement of the presser plate. The connectionbetween the bell-crank lever and the horizontally moving slide is such that the slide may reciprocate vertically with the knife without movement of the bell-crank or presser plate The vertical movement of the heel tread presser plate is limited by a coiiperating stopwhich comes in contact with the'tread faceof thev shank. The stop and plate act, therefore, to measure each heel and the vertical movement of the plate is determined in accordance with the height of each heel. Consequently through the mechanism described, the initial position of the knife is varied in accordance with the height of the heel and hence, as the stroke of the knife is constant, the limit of the knife stroke is determined by the height of the heel irrespectivelyof other characteristics of the shoe or last; i

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description and drawings and will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,Figure 1 shows a side view of the upper portion of themachine including the jack by which the shoe may be 7 elevated to engagetheoperative mechanism of the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine represented in Fig. 1. I The reference numeral 2 indicates the frame of the machine upon the side of which is mounted a slide 5, for vertical movement in' guideways 6, and carries the heel tread presser plate 4 pivoted to an outward eX- tension thereof at 7.

A screw 11 is threaded through the extension and rotatably connected with the plate 4 so that it may be adjusted angularly about the pin 7. 7

To the right of the slide '5 is similarly mounted a slide 8 which carries an adjustable stop 9arranged to engage the shank portion of a shoe just forward of the breast. The stop slide and presser plate slide are connected for equal and opposite movement by a pinion 10 having a fixed axis at 12 and engaging rack teeth formed on the adjacent faces of the presser plate slide 5 and the stop slide 8, respectively. 7

A jack of any type capable of raising and holding the shoe'may be provided. As herein shown thejack comprises a heel pin 20 carried on the block 22 which maybe adjusted for varying the vertical inclination of the heel breast by movement upon the segmental slide 24. 1 i

The heel pin mechanism is mounted upon a post 32 which has a slight lateral movement aboutits lower end in the tubular upper portion of the post 33 so that lasts in which the thimbles are differently located laterally, as in rights and lefts, may be brought into the same relation to the knife and the heels of the shoes carriedby the lasts may have their longitudinal median lines located laterally at the center of the cutting edge of the knife.

Movement of the post 32 longitudinally of the shoeis prevented by stops 34 which, however, permit vertical movement of the post upon movement of the arc-shaped wedge 36, the upper edge of which rests against the lower end of the post 32. The lower face of the wedge 36 slides upon the block 38. The wedge 36 is mounted by links 40 for movement about the pin 42 as a cen ter and is operated by downward pressure upon the handle 44, which is always maintained in horizontal position by a suitable parallel motion mechanism, as for example, the bar 46 and the connectionsshown. By pressure upon the'handle 44 the shoe may be raised and held'rigidly against the presser plate 4. The post 33 is adjustably held in the jack post 48 which is pivoted near the floor so that the jack may be swung outwardly to the right for the removal of one shoe and the substitution of another. It is to be understood that a toe rest may be provided for the shoe, if desired.

Above the presser plate 4 is a bellecrank lever 50 pivoted at 52 to the frame of the machine and having one arm connected at 54 to the presser plate slide 5 for movement vertically therewith. The other arm of the bell-crank carries an anti-friction roll 56 which engagesa vertical slot 58 in a plate 60 which is mounted for movement horizontally of the machine in the side face of an actuating slide 62, Fig. 2. The slide 62 is reciprocated by connection with a crank near the base of the machine to which power may be applied, through the usual one revolution clutch, from a power driven pulley. A block 78 is pivotally mounted on the slide 60 by a pin 63 and rests in an inclined slot 65 formed in the inner face of a knife slide '10 mounted for vertical movement beside the actuating slide and carrying a knife 71 havl ing the usual clamping screws 73 and adjustable abutments 75.

With the mechanism described it will be seen that the horizontal movement of the slide 60 will similarly move the block 78 and that the movement of the block 78 in the oblique slot 65 will move the knife slide, in which the slot 65 is formed, a vertical distance proportional to the horizontal movement of the slide 60. In the instance selected for illustration the slot 65 is arranged at an inclination of 45 to the direction of movement of the slide 60 and therefore the slide 60 communicates to the knife slide a vertical movement equal to its own horizonlilii tal movement. It' will also be seen that vertical reciprocation of the actuating slide 62 Will carry with it the slide 60 which is mounted for horizontal movement thereon, the block 78 pivoted to the slide 60, and the knife carrier 7 0, so that the knife will pertermined in each case by the vertical displacement of the lower face of the presser plate 4 relatively to the shoe contacting face of the stop 9. I

, In the operation of the machine, a shoe is placed upon the heel pin 20 of the jack. The jack is then swung under the heel tread plate orabutment 4 and the lever 44 operated to raise the shoe toward the plate.-

As thetread face of theheel presses against the tread iplate,

the plate is'moved upward and its motion istransmitted through the pinion 10 to'the correspondingslideS of the shank stop or. abutment 9 which'is accordingly depressed to the same extentas the tread plate is raised. Finally the, stop 9 contacts With the shank portion'of the shoe and hencearrests further movement of the tread plate and looks ,it Ward movement. Further pressure upward upon the shoe now tends to clamp the shoe firmly in position against the tread and shank abutments without afiecting its vertical; position, jack being distributed between the heel abutment or plate 4 and-the shank abutment or stop 9. During this positioning and clamping movement, it is understood that the breast has been properly positioned relatively to the forward edge of the tread or gage plate which corresponds in shape and position to the out which the knife will make. The upward movement of the plate 4 during the operation of bringing the shoe into clamped position has, through the bellcrank lever 50, operated to displace the horizontal slide- 60 laterally ofthe machine and hence has, through the block 78 in the oblique slot 65, adjusted the knife carrier vertically an amount corresponding to the vertical movement of the presser plate 4, or, what is the same thing, to the vertical movement of the stop 9; that is, as the stop is moved down from its normal position during the clamping movement of the shoe, the knife has also moved d own the same amount so that whatever the position of the stop or Whatever the height of the heel the knife will always reach in its cutting stroke the plane of the work engaging face of the stop 9; It willbe understood that the machine of against further upthe upward pressure of the- -thepresent invention is equally adapted to breasting shoes on or off the last.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is I .1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a knife, able by the work, a shoe positioning stop, and means operated by the stop for holding the plate against displacement during the operation of the knife. 1

21A machine of the class described, having, incombination, a presser plate to be moved up by the work, a stop for engaging the shank, a knife, and means controlled by the stopfor locking the presser plate.

3. A machine of a presser plate movthe'cla'ss described, having, in combination, a presser plate movable constant relation to the position to which the stop is moved by the presserplate.

4. A machine. of ing, in combination, a knife having a constant stroke, a shoe'support'for' raising the shoe, a plate arranged to contact with-the tread face of the "heel and to. be elevated thereby, a stop, arranged to contact with the shank, and connections between I said stop and said plate for arresting further move mentof the'plate when theshoe is inproper relation -tothe' limit of theknife stroke.

5. In a machine of the class. described, the combination of a" breasting knife havinga stroke of constant length, and means which engages the heel and is movable by the heel the. class described, havfor automatically clamping heels'of varying thickness with the tread face of the shank atthelower'limit of the knife stroke.

6. A machine of the class described, vhav- 1 ing, in combination, a breasting knife having a stroke of constant length, a shoe support, means for elevating the shoe" support, means located in the path of movement of the shoe for contacting with'the tread surface of theheel as the shoe israised, and

means operatively connected with said contacting means for arresting-upward movement of'the said contacting-means when the shank has reached knife stroke. I

7. A'machine of the ing, in combination, a ing a stroke of constant length, a shoe support, means for elevating the same, and

class described, havmeans including a presser plate arranged to engage the tread surface of the heelto arrest upward movement of the heel irrespectively of-jthe height thereof automatioally limit of the knife stroke.

Y 8. In a heel breasting machine, the combination of a shoe support, a movableknife, a presser plate yieldingly pressed toward the:

the lower limit of the.

breasting knife, hav

When the shank has reached the lower I shoe support, means for moving the shoe against the presser plate to raise the plate toward the knife, and means for automatically limiting the movement of the presser plate in accordance with the height of heel.

9. In a machine of'the class described, the combination with a shoe support, and a cutting tool arranged to be actuated toward and from the shoe to perform its cutting operation, of means for giving the cutting tool a preliminary movement according to a dimension of the work prior to the actuation of the cutting tool to do its work.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination of a vertically movable heel tread presser plate, a movable stop, and connections between the presser plate and the stop whereby when the stop contacts with the shank further movement of thepresser plate and the stop, and automatic means for limiting the knife movement in accordance with the position of the stop.

12. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a reciprocating heel breasting knife, a heel tread presser plate mounted for movement in the same directions as the knife, and means operated by movement of the presser plate for varying the operation'of the knife. 7

13. ;A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for moving the knife through a distance, the length of which is constant, and means rendered effective by contact with the shoe forautomatically determining the lower limit of movement of the knife in accordance with the height of the heel.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for re ciprocating the knife between two limits which are a constant distance apart, a presser plate to contact with the tread face of the heel and movable thereby, and means controlled by the movement of the presser plate for varying the knife limits.

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, supporting means therefor, means for reciprocating the knife through a constant distance, a heel tread presser plate adapted to be moved by pressure of the h'eelthereupon, and means controlled by the position of the presser with the shoe, and means for changing the initial position of the knife in accordance with the elevation of the plate.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating tool having a constant stroke, two shoe positioning means movable relatively in the same directions as the tool, and means operatively connected with said positioning means and the tool for maintaining a constant relation between the shank of the shoe and the tool notwithstanding the variation of the extent of movement of said positioning means relatively to each other. I

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for operating the same, a stop for engaging the shank of the shoe, and means actuated by contact with the shoe for moving the stop and for correspondingly adjusting the knife.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for actuating the knife to do its work, a stop for engaging the shank of the shoe, and means operated by contact therewith of another portion of the shoe for moving the stop toward the shoe and for equally and simultaneously adjusting the knife toward the s 0e.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating breasting knife, movable means contacting with the shoe at two points located upon opposite 7 direction of the stroke of the knife for varying the lower limit of the stroke of the knife.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a. knife, means for reciprocating the knife a constant distance in a vertical plane, vertically movable positioning means supported independently of the shoe and arranged to contact with different portions of the shoe, and means controlled by the relative positions assumed by different portions of said positioning means when moved by the shoe for maintaining a constant relation between the limit of the knife strokes and a portion of the shoe.

22. Amachine of the class described, having, in combination, an actuating slide, meansfor giving the slide a constant stroke, a knife carrier connected with said slide, means for moving the carrier relatively to the slide, and means for varying the extent of said movement automatically in accordance with characteristics of the work.

23. In amachine of the class described, an actuating member, means for giving the same a constant range of movement, a cutting tool carrying member mounted upon the said actuating member, work position- 7 ing means adapted to engage the work at a plurality of points on the same side of the nection between said stop and said plate 1 whereby they are moved equally and oppowork which are separated in the direction of movement of the tool, and means for adjustsitely, and connections between said plate and said knife whereby the knife is moved downwardly relatively to its actuating slide to the same extent as the stop.

'25; In a machine of the class described, an

actuating slide, a knife carrier. mounted thereon and movable relatively thereto,- a

.knife' adjusting slide at right angles to said actuating slide, and connections between said slide and the 'carrier'whereby movement of the slide moves the'kn'ife relatively to said actuating slide in the direction of'its'operative movement, means for raising the shoe toward the knife, means engaging respectively the tread face of the heel and the shank portion of the shoe sole for limiting the upward movement, and means actuated by movement of said limiting means upon contact of the shoe therewith for operating the knife adjusting slide. 7 p

26. A machine of the class described having,in combination, a knife, a shoe support, means for moving relatively the shoe support and the knife, and means for arresting automatically, by contact with the heel, relative movement ofthe heel of the shoe on said support and the knifewith the base of the heel at a constant distance from the knife irrespectively of the height of the heel.

27. A machine of the class described having,in combination, a kni fe,,means for actuating the same, an abutment movable in the direction of the knife movement by pressure of the heel against it, and means for arresting movement of the abutment when the proper relation of the heel and the knife is reached for breasting the particular'he'el being treated without cutting the shank.

28. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a breasting knife, means for actuating'the same, a shoe support and means for manually raising the same toward the knife to position the shoe shankat the limitof the knife stroke, including a device continuously operative to prevent reverse movement of the support while it is being raised, and means adapted to be engaged and moved by the heel for automatically determlning, in accordance with the height of the heel, the position to which the shoe should be moved when the said position is reached. i 0 29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a breasting knife, and

means for actuating the same, a shoe support, means for moving the same toward the; knife and acting to prevent reverse movement thereof, and movable means contacting with the shoe and acting upon movement thereof by the shoe to arrest. movement of. the shoe with the shank at the lovver'limit of 1 the knife stroke irrespectively of the height .7 V

of the heel, saidmeans forming, after the shoe is positioned, an abutment against which the shoe may be clamped.

80. In a machine of. the class described;

the-combination of a supportfor the shoe withmeans for raising and locking the same in, elevated position, a movableabutment against which the shoe is clamped by movement of the support,and'meansfor positively arresting movement of the abutment in a posltion determined by the height of the heel.- 31. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a jack, of means for raising the jack and holding it rigidly in raised position, an abutment arranged to to be raised therewith, and means arranged to arrest further movement of theabutment upon contact of the shoe with said last namedmeans. 5

contact with the tread face of the heel and 32. A machine of the described, hav- 1 ing, in combination, a cutting 1 tool, 'relatively movable abutments against which the tread face of the shoe may be clamped, and

means connecting the abutmentswhereby a ofpres sure' is;

predetermined distribution effected between them. i v V 38. Amachine of'the class described, having, in combination, an operating tool, and

interconnected relatively movable abutments arranged externally of the shoe upon opposite sides of the tool andadjacent thereto against which the shoe may be heldin positionfor treatment by the tool. V

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an operating. tool, relatively movable abutments arranged externally of the shoeupon opposite sides of the tool and upon-thesame side of the shoe as I the tool, and connections between the abutments whereby pressure against them is distributed between them in a predetermined? ratio.

35(Amachinof the class described having, in combination, an operating tool, abutments on opposite sides of the tool andupon the same side of the work as the tool, and means for equalizing. the pressure upon said abutments. i V

36. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an operating tool, abut- 'ments on opposite sides of the tool, means for distributing the pressure between said abutments, and means set by the abutments for effecting a preadjustment of the tool- 37. A machine of the class described-having, in combination, a breasting knife, means for actuating the same, movable abutments for engaging the shoe in front of and behind the knife, and means operated by movement of the abutments upon contact with the shoe for effecting an adjustment of the knife prior to its operating stroke.

38. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a breasting knife, means for actuating the same, movable abutments for engaging the shoe in front of and behind the knife, and means operated by movement of the abutments upon contact with the shoe for effecting adjustment of the knife so that upon its actuation it will out to the plane of the contacting face of one ofthe abutments.

v 39. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a breasting knife, means for actuating the same, movable abutments for engaging the shoe in front of and behind the knife, and means operated upon movement of the abutments by the shoe for setting mechanism to cause the action of the knife to be arrested at the plane of the contacting face of the shank abutment.

40. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tool, a heel abutment and a shank abutment, means for jacking a shoe toward said abutments, means permitting movement of the abutments simultaneously in opposite directions, and means for limiting the action of the tool at a point determined by the position of one of the abutments.

41. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tool, a heel abutment and a shank abutment, means for jacking a shoe toward said abutments, means permitting movement of the abutments simultaneously in opposite directions, and means for limiting the action of the tool in accordance with the position of the contacting face of the shank abutment.

42. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a vertically reciprocating tool, a heel abutment and a shank abutment also mounted for vertical movement, means for jacking a shoe toward said abutments, means for depressing one of the abutments as the other is elevated, and means for limiting the action of the tool in accordance with the position of the lower abutment.

43. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knife, means for actuating the same, a plurality of movable abutments, means for clamping the shoe against said abutments, and means controlled in accordance with the relative vertical position of said abutments for terminating the stroke of the knife at a predetlerrlnined point below the tread face of the 44. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, an actuator therefor, a movable stop for engaging the shank of a shoe, and mechanical connections between the stop and the knife for moving the knife relatively to its actuator in the same direction and to the same extent as the stop is moved.

45. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, an actuator therefor, a movable stop for engaging the shank of a shoe, and mechanism for maintaining a constant positional relation between the knife and the shoe engaging face of the stop at all times prior to the actuation of the knife and permitting variable relation between the knife and the stop throughout the actuation of the knife.

46. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, an actuator therefor, a movable stop for engaging the shank of a shoe, and mechanism for moving the stop at each operation and prior to the actuation of the knife to the point to which the knife will be moved by the actuator and maintaining the stop rigidly in that position during the action of the knife.

47. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for actuating the same, a movable shank stop against which the shoe may be clamped to hold it during the operation of the knife, a presser plate connected with the shank stop, and means for holding both the plate and the stop from movement by clamping pressure of the shoe against them during the actuation of the knife.

48. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, actuating means for giving the knife a constant stroke, a shoe support, means for raising the support, means for limiting movement of the shoe by the support, and means for giving the knife a preliminary adjustment relatively to its actuator to correspond with the point to which the work is raised.

49. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife having provision for preliminary adjustment toward the work, means for actuating the knife, a stop mounted for movement toward the work, and means for adjusting the knife and the stop simultaneously for the individual piece of work, said means including provision for returning both the knife and stop to their initial positions after the removal of the work.

50. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a presser plate, a movable shoe support, a shank stop, a breasting knife, and means actuated by continued movement of the shoe support after the tread face of the heel has contacted with the presser plate to adjust the knife for the thickness of the heel of the shoe.

51. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for moving the knife through a constant distance, means contacting with the shoe shank, and operating mechanism connected therewith for automatically limiting movement of the shoe heel relatively to the limit of the knife stroke irrespectively of the height of the heel.

52. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for reciprocating the knife through a constant distance, a movable presser plate to contact with the tread face of the heel arranged to be moved by pressure of the heel thereupon, and means positioned by the movement of the presser plate forstopping vertical movementof the plate.

53. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, means for reciprocating the knife vertically through a constant distance, a vertically movable presser plate arranged to contact with the tread face of the heel, 'means for elevating the shoe against the plate and the plate With the shoe, and means connected with the plate for stopping movement of the plate automatically in accordance With the height of the heel.

54. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a knife having an unvarying length of stroke, means for raising and holding a shoe, means engaging the tread face of the heel and arranged to be raised thereby, and automatic means for locking said means against further movement when the 'shankof the shoe is at one limit of the knife stroke.

55. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a reciprocating knife, a presser plate for engaging the heel and exerting yielding pressure thereon, and

means operated by contact with anotherportion of the shoe for rendering the yielding pressure of the plate unyielding.

56. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a breasting knife, a heel EDWARD ERICKSON.

Witnesses: e

CHESTER E. ROGERS, RALPH CHIsHoLM.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each,-by addressing the "Commissioner ot'ratents,

Washington, D; G. 

